# **Overview** #### **Zachary Taylor <> 1849-1850 (12th President)** - **Good:** - **Taylor's Opposition to The Compromise of 1850** - {*1850*} - (After the Mexican-American War, the U.S. acquired vast new western territory. As states like California and New Mexico prepared to enter the Union, fierce debate started regarding whether slavery would be allowed in the new territories. The South wanted protection of slavery in the new territories, while the North wanted to stop its expansion. As a result, sectional tensions were at an all time high. Zachary Taylor, though a slaveholder himself, took a surprisingly anti-expansionist stance on slavery in the new territories. He supported immediate statehood for California and New Mexico without first organizing them as territories -- which would bypass the slavery question. Both of the states had drafted free-state constitutions, and Taylor supported admitting them as is. He opposed Henry Clay's compromise which included admitting California as a free state [supported], organizing Utah and New Mexico with popular sovereignty [not supported], enacting a strong Fugitive Slave Act [not supported], abolishing the slave trade in D.C. [supported], and settling Texas boundary disputed with federal compensation [not supported]. Taylor also threatened to use force against secessionists and in part taking a firm nationalist position, even telling Southern leaders he'd lead an army himself to stop any rebellion. Overall a very strong position that I support, even the part about using force if need be to enforce this position. I am not someone who supports using war or force except for very specific circumstances the major one being if its to support and provide for justice and our own country still had slavery which in my opinion warrants this in full.) - **Taylor's Response to The New Mexico-Texas Border Dispute** - {*1850*} - (For context, After the Mexican-American War, the U.S. acquired vast new lands, including territory now known as New Mexico, Texas, a slave state, claimed a huge portion of this land, arguing it had inherited it from its days as an independent republic. The federal government and the people of New Mexico rejected Texas's claim. most of New Mexico was populated and governed separately, and Texans had never effectively administered the area. Sectional tensions were already high, and this land dispute risked turning into an outright conflict -- especially since Texas threatened to send its militia into the region. Taylor rejected Texas's expansionist claim saying he supported New Mexico's right to organize itself under a free constitution. He refused to recognize Texas's attempt to expand slavery by redrawing its borders. He defended federal authority by threatening military forces to assert his claim which when it comes to states trying to be expansionist I find defensible. Taylor made clear that no state had the right to unilaterally seize land. Overall Taylor's approach to the situation is fantastic and prioritizes anti-slavery stances.) - **Taylor's Political Independence** - {*1849-1850*} - (For context, Zachary Taylor was a career military general with no prior political experience when he was nominated by the Whigs in 1848. He was chosen largely because of his popularity from the Mexican-American War -- not because he shared the Whigs' ideological vision. Taylor resisted being a party puppet in that he did not consult Whig leadership when making major decisions. He refused to endorse their core platform, especially their plans for internal improvements and a new national bank. Taylor opposed Clay's compromise package and offered his own plan -- ignoring party strategy. Taylor's cabinet included both Northern and Southern Whigs, but lacked prominent "party bosses." This further reflects his anti-factional and independent governing style. Overall if you elect someone to run on your ticket and they are then elected it is not their fault that they disagree with parts of the party platform and I'm saying that with some things I disagree with Taylor with like the idea of no new National Bank.) - **Slightly Good:** - - **Neutral/Mixed:** - - **Slightly Bad:** - - **Bad:** - ### **Death:** Zachary Taylor died on July 9, 1850, only 16 months into his presidency. His death was attributed to acute gastroenteritis, likely because of a combination of contaminated food/drink and the sweltering Washington summer heat. At the time, rumors of poisoning brew due to the contentious political climate, but modern historians and forensic tests suggest natural causes. Taylor’s death had immediate and major consequences, because at the time of his passing, the Compromise of 1850 was still being debated — and Taylor had strongly opposed many of its provisions, especially the spread of slavery and Texas's land claims. His death cleared the way for Millard Fillmore, who reversed course and signed the full Compromise package into law. Had Taylor lived, it is possible the Compromise would have been broken up or blocked altogether. His firm stance against secession and expansionist appeasement marked a sharp contrast to Fillmore’s more conciliatory approach. As with William Henry Harrison, the brevity of Taylor’s term means much of his potential impact remains a matter of historical speculation. ###### **Conclusion:** A president who died after serving only 1/4 of his term, Zachary Taylor was an anti-slavery expansionism president who wasn't afraid to go against his party if he believed it to be right. His views on The Compromise of 1850 and The Texas-New Mexico border dispute were fantastic, but sadly his vision wasn't realized due to his untimely death. ###### **Final Rating:** **6.5/10**